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' FOLDING TABLE. A Patented Dec. 25, 1883 N. PErEns. Pmwumognphef.wmhingwn. D. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT A-O-EEICE.,

BENJAMIN H. RICHARDSON, OF MILTON, AND BENJAMIN I?. RICHARDSON, OFBOSTON, MASS., ASSIGNORS TO SAID BENJAMIN I. RICHARDSON.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,932, dated December25, 1882.

Application tiled April 4,1883. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN H. RIoII- AEDsoN and BENJAMIN P.RIoIIAEDsoN, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, atMilton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, and atBoston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts. havejointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables;and We do hereby declare that the same are fully described in thefollowing specification and illustrated ina-he accompanying drawings.

The obj ect of this in vention is to give greater firmness and stabilityto folding tables than have hitherto been attained.

Our improvements secure the spread legs of the table against lateralstrains from either direction, automatically open the brackets when thelegs are spread, and hold the legs in position when closed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of the table spread for use;Fig. 2, a plan of the under side with the legs and brackets folded;

' Fig. 3, an enlarged perspective 4view of part of the table invcited,and Fig. 4.- a detail in section.

A is the table-top, B B, the legs, hinged beneath it at H, and united inpairs at each end of the table by panels C, folding with the legs, as inFig. 2.

E E are folding brackets, preferably metallic castings, having theirbearings F F in a line at right angles to the axes of the leghinges, sothat when the legs and their connecting-panels are spreadperpendicularly to the top A, the brackets may be opened out into aplane at right angles to both. The panels are in the plane of the outerfaces of thelegs, so as to have room beneath them,when folded, for thebracket and spring G. The inner face of each panel bears, near its loweredge, a loop or slotted plate, D, with which a terminal projection, c,on the bracket E engages when spread, so as to hold the legs firmlyagainst strains, tending either to close them or spread them morewidely. Fig. 3 clearly shows the projection e in position inthe slot ofthe plate D, the edge of the bracket being recessed to admit it, as seenin Fig. 2. The shape of the bracket is also peculiar, in that it isarched or hollowed out between its bearings to receive the spring G,having an arm, which extends beneath the bracket and tends to open itout as soon as the legs are spread. The panels, however,when folded,keep the brackets down, as will be clear from Fig. 2. The brackets arein their turn each formed with avertical shoulder, E, lying close to theedge of the folded panel, as in Figs. 2 and 4,so that until the bracketis depressed against the power of the spring 6o the legs and panels willnot open, because the edge 0I" the panel strikes the shoulder E. Atransverse cleat, K, is secured near each end of the table. It isnotched near its ends, as in Figs. 2 and 3, to receive the ends of the65 legs and support them on three sides, while` they bear squarelyagainst the under side of the top A. The panel C also bears, along itswhole length, upon this cleat when the legs spread. The cleat also formsa bearing for 7o the bracket E, besides supporting the top againstwarping.

, We claim as our invention- 1. In a folding table, the top A,hingedlegs B, united in pairs by the panels C, carrying the loops orslotted plates D, in combination with the brackets E, provided with theterminal projections e, adapted to enter the slots of the plates I) andsupport the legs rmly against lateral strains from either direct-ion,

substantially as set forth.

2. The table-top A, hinged legs B, and panels C, in combination with theswingingbrackets E, each having a vertical shoulder, E', and with aspring, G, tending to spreader unfold the bracket, and thereby to holdsaid shoulder against the upper edge of the folded panel, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we hereto afX our signatures in presenceof twowitnesses.

BENJAMIN H. RICHARDSON. BENJAMIN I?. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, E. M. AsnLEY.

